The lawn at the Pritzlaff Conservation Center (PCC) sees thousands of visitors and serves as a heavily used event space every year — from personal picnics to private wedding receptions. Due to this impact, we are always striving to find a balance that is both beautiful and functional. Since its unveiling in 2016, the lawn…
Here’s a scary fact: by the year 2080, the climate in Santa Barbara is projected to approach that of present-day Ensenada, Mexico. Already, temperatures are rising and drought is increasingly frequent. What’s a sustainable gardener to do? In my hot, dry, south-facing Santa Barbara yard, which my husband and I rarely watered (and where I…
As we face a warmer, hotter planet, wildfires are an increasing reality across the nation, which is why the Garden is actively researching how native plants can help us better manage fire risk. But, did you know there are also things you can do today — at your home, in your landscape, and around your…
The latest issue of Ironwood, the Garden’s biannual magazine, has arrived — and it’s rooted in hope. Issue 37 invites you to dig deeper into what it means to care for our planet, starting in your backyard. Whether you’re a longtime native plant enthusiast or just starting to explore their value, this issue offers stories…
Non-native turfgrass lawns may be widely planted in southern California, but they simply do not belong here. To many people these ubiquitous green carpets of grass seem inoffensive, even desirable. But after years of droughts, fires, and mudslides, many Californians are beginning to understand that it’s past time for us to rethink their presence here.…
Southern California is no stranger to fire, but as we were all reminded in January 2025 with the Eaton and Pacific Palisades fires, they are becoming increasingly intense, decimating wildlands and urban areas alike. Indeed, of the top 10 largest fires that have burned in Santa Barbara and Ventura Counties from 1878 to 2019, five…
The digital edition of Ironwood 36, the Garden’s bi-annual magazine, is here — and it’s brimming with stories that will inspire, inform, and ignite your passion for native plants. This issue celebrates the incredible potential packed into something as small as a seed. With every article, we invite you to join us in our mission…
New to the world of native plant gardening? It’s easy to get caught up in the weeds (pun intended) and become overwhelmed with the countless native plant species, varieties, and cultivars available in the trade. Lucky for you, there are several true-and-tried perennial plants that are easy to grow, bloom bountifully, and create habitat. Perennial…
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